Student Association Presses for Student Space

by Myles Goldman

The Student Association had its shortest meeting of the year Monday night but found time to pass a comprehensive Student space bill.

The bill titled, "Student Space Campaign Act" passed unanimously in a meeting that only lasted about 40 minutes.  The bill voices support for the student space campaign proposal SA President Ashwin Narla released last week.  http://www.wrgwnews.com/2013/01/student-association-proposes-new.html

"Calling on a firm commitment from The George Washington University Board of Trustees, President and Administration to making Student Space a priority," the bill states, "and laying out in the next semester a timeline for University investment in Student Space," it states.

The SA has spent the last week trying to rally support for the bill.  On Tuesday night SA Senators and members of Narla's Cabinet went dorm storming with a petition urging students to sign and show their support.  On Thursday from 12-2 there will be a rally for the bill in Kogan plaza.  Free food will be served, and the SA is expecting 1600 students will attend.

The SA's goal is to collect 5,000 student signatures on the petition that Narla plans to bring to the Board of Trustees when they meet next week.

Senator Ryan Counihan (SOB-U), the bill's sponsor, says this year's SA is addressing the student space issue more directly with administrators.

"We've played nice [with the Administration] for a year-and-a-half, but at this point we're rethinking our strategy," he said.

At the meeting approximately 14 Senators were absent, most likely due to rush week for fraternities and class conflicts.  Additionally, the SA invited student organization leaders to attend the meeting to talk about student space and tried to entice them with free food but it appeared that very few organization leaders attended.

In other news from the meeting it was announced that Student Association elections will likely be held the first week after spring break.  The JEC will make the final decision in the next week or two.